Sprinkler head



Dec. 15, 1964 a. J. MACARTNEY SPRINKLER HEAD 2 Sheet Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1962 INVENTOR. flew? J MaMrA/EY ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1964 Filed Oct. 30, 1962 B. J. MACARTNEY SPRINKLER HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. iPucf (Z Mal/Q7445! ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofi 3,ll,236 Patented Dec. 15, I964 ice 3,161,236 SPRINKLER HEAD Bruce I. Macartney, Chatlaam, Ni, assignor to The Fyr-Fyter Company, Bayton, Ghio Filed Get. 39, I962, Ser. No. 234,193 12 Elairns. (Cl. res-s9 The present invention relates to an improved sprinkler head for automatic fire extinguishing systems.

The sprinkler system may be used to discharge water or other suitable fire extinguishing fluid supplied to the sprinkler head through a piping system. It is important that the sprinkler head be dependable in operation even though it may be in position for many years prior to its use. Obviously it is impractical to remove the sprinkler head for testing once it has been installed thus it is necesesary that the sprinkler head be quite rugged so as to withstand rough handling before and during installation, and while in use.

Difficulty has been had with prior sprinkler heads because of the eifects of corrosion in some cases, and in other cases, because of changes in the operation characteristics of the sprinkler heads due to cold flow of the fusible material. In other prior sprinkler constructions the heat has been conducted away from the fusible elements at too rapid a rate thereby tending to make the sprinkler heads slow in operation. Still other prior sprinklers have utilized constructions in which the fusible members are in shear thereby inherently making it practically impossible to achieve stable operating characteristics for such sprinklers.

The present invention aims to overcome the difiiculties and disadvantages of prior constructions in that a construction is evolved in which no difficulties are presented by corrosion because the fusible material is practically completely enclosed. The construction is such that the fusible material is under low compressive stress.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a sprinkler head in which the valve member is held against its seat by a lever arrangement restrained by a fusible element in a jamming construction.

The construction is advantageous in that the sprinkler head may be tested while installed to ascertain the pressure holding its valve member upon its seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler head which is simple and economical in manufacture, which may be accurately and dependably adjusted and which is rugged in use.

In the drawings FIGURE 1 is a front view of a sprinkler head in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 3 and 4 are respectively side and top views of a holding member for the sprinkler head.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are respectively front and side views of a strut member for the sprinkler head.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of a lever member for the sprinkler head.

FIGURE 8 is a top view of the blank for the lever memher before it has been shaped.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a fusible element for the sprinkler head.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to FIGURE 2 of a somewhat modified sprinkler head.

FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 10 of a further modified sprinkler head.

FIGURE 12 is a front view of the sprinkler head shown in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a View corresponding to FIGURE 11 of a still further modified sprinkler head.

Referring to the drawings the sprinkler head 1 includes a body member 2 having a passageway 3 extending therethrough, the end of the passageway 3 forming a combination nozzle and valve seat 4. A valve member 5 closes the passage through the nozzle 4. Upwardly extending from the body member 2 is a frame 6 carrying at its upper end a deflector head or spreader '7.

The valve member 5 is held on its seat 4 by a thermally collapsible assembly 9 including a strut member 10, a lever member 11, holding means 12 and a fusible element 14. A gasket 15 is interposed between the valve member 5 and its seat i. The top of the valve member Sis grooved to form a bearing surface 16.

At the upper end of the frame ri is a collar 17 having a threaded opening therethrough to receive a screw or an adjustably set member 19 having a threaded outer surface and provided with a bearing surface 20 at its lower end. The thermally collapsible assembly 9 is maintained in position between the bearing surfaces 16 and 20.

The body member 2 is threaded at one end as indicated at 2.1 in order that the sprinkler head 1 may be secured in the outlet of a conventional fire extinguishing piping system not shown. The frame 6 and the collar 17 may be made integrally with the body member 2 in a cast or forged construction or otherwise as is well known in the art. The frame ti should be of ample strength so that the valve member 5 is held on its seat 4 with the desired amount of contact pressure without undue distortion of the frame e.

The deflector head 7 is conventional and secured in position by the turning over of the upper end of the collar 17 as indicated at 25. If desired the collar 17 and the screw 19 may be apertured to receive a pin or rivet 25 to maintain the screw in the desired set position. The upper end of the screw 15 is apertured and formed as indicated at 2'7 to receive a standard tool to adjust the force with which the valve member 5 is urged against its seat.

The bearing surface 213 is preferably generally cone shaped with a rounded tip providing ample bearing area. The strut member 10 is preferably made of a straight fiat piece of material of adequate strength to hold the valve member 5 against its seat 4. The strut member '19 has its upper end 39 and its lower end 31 rounded to provide pivotable supporting surfaces, the upper end 30 of the strut member ll? forming a fulcrum for the lever 11. The strut member It has an opening 32 adjacent the lower portion thereof, with a projection 34 extending downwardly therein from its upper portion and a second projection 35 extending upwardly therein opposite the projection 34.

The lever member 11 may be formed from a piece of flat stock with an extension 36 at its lower end as shown in FIGURE 8. The upper end 37 of the lever member ll is turned approximately at right angles to its body 39. The end 37 is formed with a laterally extending depression or groove ill of a shape to receive the rounded end 39 of the strut member 10. On the opposite side of the end 37 of the lever member 11 is a rounded depression 41 shaped to receive the end of the rounded bearing surface 20. The spacing between the groove 40 and the depression 41 provides a short lever arm while the spacing between the groove 4% and the extension 36 provides a long lever arm.

The holding member 12 (FIGURE 4) is formed with an aperture 42; adjacent one end acting as holding means to receive the extension as of the lever member 11. The length of the aperture 42 is somewhat greater than the thickness of the lever member 11 for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained. One end of the holding member 12 is turned upwardly as indicated at 44 at an angle of approximately 45 and, if desired, its other end 4-5 may be rounded as shown in FIGURE 4.

3 The fusible element 14 includes a generally cup-shaped base member 46 having a flattened bottom surface 47. The upper end of the base member 46. is closed by a .pistonmember 49 which seats on a mass of fusible material 50. The upper'edge of the base member 46 is turned inwardly as indicated at 51o'ver edges 52 of the piston-member 49 to provide a hermetically sealed conconfined in the cavity of the base member 46 and thus is not subjected to shearing stress. The edges 52 of the piston member 49 are spaced from the inner surface of the side walls of the base member 46 so as to provide a clearance of approximately .05 inch in order that the fusible material 50 may pass through this space when 4 the lever member 11. This force is maintained by a much lesser force against the fusible material50 through the mechanical advantage of the lever. 11. In the event the sprinkler head is subjected to a temperature above the melting point of the fusible material 50, the fusible material melts and allows the piston member 49 to move downwardly therethroughthus collapsing the fusibleelement 14 and releasing the holding member 12 and the lever 11 so that the'lassembly 9'is thrown out 'of position allowing the valve member 5 to be forced away from its .seat by the pressure of the fire extinguishing agent inthe passage 3.

fused. The construction of the fusible element 14 so far disclosed is well known in the art.

The piston member 49 is provided. with an extension :54 having a cup-shaped depression 55 to receive the projection 34 of the strut member 10. Alternatively, a construction might be used in which the extension 54 is pointed andthe projection 34 is enlarged and a cupsh-aped depression is provided therein, both constructions forming pivotable bearing means for the fusible element 14 with respect to the strut member 10.-

In the assembly of the sprinkler head 1 the parts are arranged as illustrated and the screw 19 is-adjusted to move the bearing surface 20 downwardly to holdthe assembly 9 in position and to hold the valve member 5 and its gasket 15 against the seat 4. As previously stated the opening 42 of the holding member 12 is made somewhat longer than the thickness of the extension 36 of the lever member 11. By applying a'pressure gauge to the end of the extension 36 so as to move the lever member 11 inwardly by the amount provided by the opening 42 ameasure is had of the pressure with which the valve member 5 is held against its seat. This means of testing the pressure with'which the valve member 5 is seated may also be used while the sprinklerhead is installed ona piping system. The screw 19 is adjusted to providethe desired seat pressure whereupon the pin '26 may be placed in position.

It should be noted that the fusible element 14 presents a generally triangularly shapedsection having the base 47 and an apex at the base of the cup-shaped depression 55. The cup-shaped depression 55 is positioned .generally perpendicularly to the flat surface 47 and apswing the fusible element 14 about the projection- 34' of the strut member 10. A jamming action is thus had in which the projection 35 of the strut member 10 contacts the underside of the holding member 12, the upper side of which bears against the flat surface 47 of the fusible element 14* thereby tending to urge the fusible element 14 upwardly so that the projection 34 of the strut member 10-is seated in the depression 55 of the fusible element 14. The holding member is thus held in position by the jamming force which is transferred to. a compressing force on the fusible material 50. 7

Because of the construction used, the valve mernbe 5 is held against its seat 4 by a compressive force trans"- mitted through the strut 1.0 and the short lever arm o In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 10 a somewhat modified construction is usedin which like numerals are employed as for the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 through 9. In the sprinkler head 56 the holding member 12a is formed as an extension of end 57 of the lever member 11a. In fabricating this construction it is desirableto formulate angle 59 somewhat less than 90 so that there "is a tendency for holding member 12a to swing upwardly upon the collapse of the fusible element 14 so as to provide clearance'with'the surface 35a of I the strut member 10.

flattened surface 47 of the fusible .element 14.

In FIGURES l1 and 12there. is shown a further modified sprinkler head 60 in which the holding member 1212 is formed as in FIGURE 2 excepting that instead ofhaving an upturned end 44 thereis an upturned projection 44b engaging in a recess 446 in the flattened base 47 of the fusible element 14. Further in this embodiment the strut 10a (FIGURE 12) is somewhat modified so as to have bifurcated ends'31a and 31b engaging in cooperating grooves and 16b of the valve member 5. If desired, an upwardly extending projection 62' may be made on the valve member 5 for the bearing surface of the underside of the holding-member 12b. Obviously the construction of this embodiment might also be modified to incorporate the teaching of FIGURE 10 wherein the holding-member 12b is made as an extension of the lever 11. v Y

In'FIGURE 13 there is shown a still further modified sprinkler head 64 in-which the valve member 5 is provided with a projecti0n- 61a having a recess 65 to receive a ball extending through an opening 67 in holding member 12c and engaging in -adepression 69 in the In this construction the bifurcated strut. member 11a of FIGURE 12 is used. The-construction of the sprinkler head 64 also may be modified in accordance with the teaching of the-jamming action against the fusible element 14.

It should be noted that in all of the embodiments shown a safety feature is-incorporated whereby in the event the fusible element 14 is accidentally struck from the side there is a tendency to increase the jamming action so as to force the parts together to better withstand such an accidental force.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood thatother embodiments may-be resorted to-without departing from the invention. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of-the following claims.

I claim: r

l. A sprinkler head comprising-a body member having a passage therethrough'terminating in a nozzle, the outer end of the nozzle defining a valve seat, a deflector member, a frame extending from the body member and supportingthe deflector member in a position axially of member seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seating surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector member, means forming a second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a strut member bearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces, the lever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the setting of the adjustable member, a fusible element, means supporting the fusible element on its sides and one end, piston means abutting the other end of the fusible element and adapted to move into the fusible element upon its melting, and holding means for the lever member, the supporting means and the piston for the fusible el ment interposed between the strut member and the holding means so that upon the melting of the fusible member the valve member is released from its seat.

2. A sprinkler head comprising a body member having a passage therethrough terminating in a nozzle, the outer end of the nozzle defining a valve seat, a deflector memher, a frame extending from the body member and supporting the deflector member in a position axially of the nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seatin surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector member, means forming a second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a strut member hearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces, the lever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the setting of the adjustable member, a fusible element, cup-shaped means supporting the fusible element on its sides ond one end, piston means abutting the other end of the fusible element and adapted to move into the fusible element upon its melting, holding means for the lever member, and pivotable means operatively positioned between the piston means and the strut so that upon the melting of the fusible member the valve member is released from its seat.

3. A sprinkler head comprising a body member having a passage therethrough terminating in a nozzle, the outer end of the nozzle detinin a valve seat, a deflector member, a frame extending from the body member and supporting the deflector member in a position axially of the nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seating surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector member, 1 leans forming a second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a strut member hearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces, the lever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the setting of the adjustable member, a fusible element cup-shaped means supporting the fusible element on its sides and one end, the cup-shaped means having a generally flattened surface at one end, a piston member closing the other end of the supporting means for the fusible element, pivotable means positioned between the piston means and the strut member, holding means for the lever member abutting at one side against the flattened surface of the cup-shaped supporting means and tending to move the cup-shaped member to one side, and a bearing surface for the other side of the holding means abutting against a portion of the strut member, whereby the lever member is secured by a force transmitted through the holding means tending to rotate the cup-shaped means for the fusible element and the piston member about the pivotable means.

4. A sprinkler head comprising a body member having a passage thcrethrough terminating in a nozzle, the outer end of the nozzle defining a valve seat a deflector memb r, a frame extending from the body member and supporting the deflector member in a position axially of the nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seating surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector member, means forming a second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a strut member bearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces, the lever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the setting of the adjustable member, a fusible element, cup-shaped'means supporting the fusible element on its sides and one end, the cupshaped means having a generally flattened surface at one end, a piston means closing the other end of the support ing means for the fusible element, pivotable means positioned between the piston means of the fusible element and the strut member including means forming a cupshaped recess at the end of the piston means and a projection on the strut member engaging in the recess, holding means for the lever member abutting at one side against the flattened surface of the cup-shaped supporting means and tending to move the cup-shaped member to one side, and a bearing surface for the other side of the holding means abutting against a portion of the strut member, whereby the lever member is secured by a force transmitted through the holding means tending to rotate the cup-shaped means for the fusible element and the piston means about the pivotable means.

5. A sprinkler head comprising a body member having a passage theretlu'ough terminating in a nozzle, the outer end of the nozzle defining a valve seat, a deflector member, a frame extending from the body member and supporting the deflector member in a position axially of the nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seating surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector member, means forming a second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set memher, a strut member hearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces, the lever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the set ing of the adjustable member, a fusible element, a cup-shaped member supporting the fusible element on its sides and one end, the cup-shape member having a generally flattened surface at one end, a piston member closing the other end of the supporting member for the fusible element, pivotable means positioned between the piston means of the fusible element and the strut member, holding means for the lever member abut-ting at one side against the flattened end of the cupshaped supporting member, the holding means including a generally flat member engaged at one end with the lever member, an extension for the flat member engaged with the lower end of the cup-shaped member, and a bearing surface for the other side of the holding means, whereby the lever member is secured by a force transmitted nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member-seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, meansforming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly'of its seating surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector'member, means forming a'second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a strut member bearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces,

' the lever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to thesetting of the adjustable member, a fusible element, a cup-shaped member supporting the fusible element onits sides and one end, the cupshaped member having-a generally flattened surface at one end, a piston member closing the other end of the supporting member for the fusible element, pivotable means positioned between the piston means of the fusible element and the strut member including means forming a cup-shaped recess at the end of the piston means and a projection on the strut member engaging in the recess,

holding means for the lever member abutting at one side against the flattened end of the cup-shaped member, the holding means including a generally flat member engaged at one end with the lever member, an extension for'the flat member engaged with the lower end of the cup shapedmember, and a bearing surface for the other side of the porting the deflector member in a position axially of the nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seating surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector member, means forming a second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a strut member bearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the otherofsaid bearing surfaces; the leverv member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the setting of the adjustable member, a fusible element, a cup-shaped member supporting the fusible element on its sides and one end, the cup-shaped member havinga generally flattened surface at one end with a depression therein, a piston member closing the other end of the supporting member for the fusible element, a generally flat holding member engaged at one end with the lever member restraining its movement, and an upwardly directed extension for the holding member engaging in the depression of the cup-shaped supporting member for the fusible element, one of the flat sides of the holding member abutting the flattened surface of the fusible element, the strut member abutting against the otherside of the flat holding member, whereby the lever member is secured by a force transmitted through the holding member. a

9. A sprinkler head comprising a body member having a passage therethrough terminating in a nozzle, the outer fend of the nozzle defining a valve seat, a deflector memholding means, whereby the lever member is secured by I a force transmitted through the holding means tending J to rotate the cup-shaped about the pivotable means.

7. A sprinkler head comprising 'a body member having a passage therethrough terminating in a nozzle, the outer member for fusible element end of the nozzle defining a valve seat, adeflector member, a frame extending from the body member andsupporting the deflector member in a position axially of the nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seating surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector member, means forming a'second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a

strut member bearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces, the lever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the setting of the adjustable member, a fusible element, a cup-shaped member supporting the fusible element on its sides and one end, the cup-shaped member having a generally flattened surface at one end, a piston member closing the other end of the supporting member for the fusible'element, a generally flat holding member engaged atone end with the lever member restraining its movement, an upwardly directed end for the other end of the holding member abutting against the side of the fusible element, one of the flat sides of the holding member abutting the flattened surface of the supporting member for the fusible element, and a projection extending from the strut member and abutting against the other side of the flat holding member, wherebythe lever member is secured by a force transmitted through the holding member.

*8. A sprinkler head comprising a body member having a passage therethrough terminating in a nozzle, the outer end of the nozzle defining a'valve seat, a deflector member, a frame extending from the body member and supporting the deflector member in a positionaxially of the nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seating surface, an adjustably'set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector member, means forming a second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a

' strut member bearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces, the lever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging 'the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the setting of the adjustable member, a fusible element, a cup-shaped member supporting the fusible element on its sides and one end, the cup-shapedmember having a generally flattened surface at one end with a depressiontherein, a piston'member closing the other end of the supporting member for the fusible element, a generally flat holding member having an opening therein and engaged at one end with the lever member restraining its movement, the valve member having a depression therein, and a ball member positioned in the opening in theflat holding member and engaged between the depressions in the supporting member for the fusible member and in the valve member, the flat sides of the holding member abut ting the flattened surface of the supporting member for the fusible element, whereby the lever member is secured by a force transmitted through the holding member.

10. A sprinkler head comprising a body member having a passage therethrough terminating in a nozzle, the outer end of the nozzle defining a valve seat, a deflector member, a frame extending from the body member and supporting the deflector member in a position axially of the nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member seated on'the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seating .surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the, frame inwardly of the deflector member, means forming a second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a strut memberbearing at one end againstone. of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces, the lever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the setting of the adjustable member, a fusible element, a cup-shaped member supporting the fusible element on its sides and one end, the cup-shaped member having a generally flattened surface at one end, means forming a cup-shaped recess at the other end of the supporting member for the fusible element, a projection on the strut member engaging in the recess, the strut member having a bifurcated end engaging the valve member, the said bearing surface of the valve member being depressions therein receiving the bifurcated end of the strut member, and holding means engaging the lever member and abutting at one side against the flattened end of the supporting member for the fusible element, the valve member abutting against the other side of the holding means, whereby the lever member is secured by a force transmitted through the holding means.

11. A sprinkler head comprising a body member having a passage therethrough terminating in a nozzle, the outer end of the nozzle defining a valve seat, a deflector member, a frame extending from the body member and supporting the deflector member in a position axially of the nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seating surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector member, means forming a second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a strut member bearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a level member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces, the lever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the setting of the adjustable member, a fusible element, a cup-shaped member supporting the fusible element on its sides and one end, the cup-shaped member having a generally flattened surface at one end, a piston member closing the other end of the fusible member, the piston engaging the strut member, an extension for the lever member at one side abutting against the flattened end of the supporting member for the fusible element, means extending from the lever extension in contact with the lower end of the supporting member for the fusible element tending to swing the support member for the fusible element towards the lever member, and a bearing surface for the other side of the extension for the lever member abutting against one of said bearing surfaces, whereby the lever member is secured by a force transmitted through the lever extension.

12. A sprinkler head comprising a body member having a passage therethrough terminating in a nozzle, the outer end of the nozzle defining a valve seat, a deflector member, a frame extending from the body member and supporting the deflector member in a position axially of the nozzle and in spaced relationship therewith, a valve member seated on the valve seat and releasably closing the passage, means forming a bearing surface carried by the valve member outwardly of its seating surface, an adjustably set member extending inwardly from the frame inwardly of the deflector member, means forming a second bearing surface carried by said adjustably set member, a strut member bearing at one end against one of said bearing surfaces, a lever member interposed between the strut member and the other of said bearing surfaces, the ever member fulcruming on the strut member thereby urging the strut member against one of the bearing surfaces responsive to the setting of the adjustable member, a fusible element, a cup-shaped member supporting the fusible element on its sides and one end, the cup-shaped member having a generally flattened surface at one end, a piston member closing the other end of the fusible element, pivotable means positioned between the piston member and the strut member, an extension for the lever member at one side abutting against the lower end of the cup-shaped supporting member for the fusible element, the extension tending to swing the fusible element about its pivotable mounting, and a bearing surface for the other side of the extension for the lever member abutting against one of said bearing surfaces, whereby the lever member is secured by a force transmitted through the lever extension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,236,901 Blauvelt Aug. 14, 1917 1,342,203 Dawson June 1, 1920 1,849,316 Rowley Mar. 15, 1932 2,348,152 Rowley May 2, 1944- 2,553,726 Rowley May 22, 1951 

1. A SPRINKLER HEAD COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH TERMINATING IN A NOZZLE, THE OUTER END OF THE NOZZLE DEFINING A VALVE SEAT, A DEFLECTOR MEMBER, A FRAME EXTENDING FROM THE BODY MEMBER AND SUPPORTING THE DEFLECTRO MEMBER IN A POSITION AXIALLY OF THE NOZZLE AND IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH, A VALVE MEMBER SEATED ON THE VALVE SEAT AND REELEASABLY CLOSING THE PASSAGE, MEANS FORMING A BEARING SURFACE CARRIED BY THE VALVE MEMBER OUTWARDLY OF ITS SEATING SSURFACE, AN ADJUSTABLY SET MEMBER EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE FRAME INWARDLY OF THE DEFLECTRO MEMBER, MEANS FORMING A SECOND BEARING SURFACE CARRIED BY SAID ADJUSTABLY SET MEMBER, A STRUT MEMBER BEARING AT ONE END AGAINST ONE OF SAID BEARING SURFACES, A LEVER MEMBER INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE STRUT MEMBER AND THE OTHER OF SAID BEARING SURFACES, THE LEVER MEMBER FULCRUMING ON THE STRUT MEMBER THEREBY URGING THE STRUT MEMBER AGAINST ONE OF THE BEARING SURFACES RESPONSIVE TO THE SETTING OF THE ADJUSTABLE MEMBER, A FUSIBLE ELEMENT, MEANS SUPPORTING THE FUSIBLE ELEMENT ON ITS SIDES AND ONE END, PISTON MEANS ABUTTING THE OTHER END OF THE FUSIBLE ELEMENT AND ADAPTED TO MOVE INTO THE FUSIBLE ELEMENT UPON ITS MELTING, AND HOLDING MEANS FOR THE LEVER MEMBER, THE SUPPORTING MEANS AND THE PISTON FOR THE FUSIBLE ELEMENT INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE STRUT MEMBER AND THE HOLDING MEANS SO THAT UPON THE MELTING OF THE FUSIBLE MEMBER THE VALVE MEMBER IS RELEASED FROM ITS SEAT. 